The effects of aging on biceps brachii muscle fibers: a morphometrical study from biopsies and autopsies

OBJECTIVES: In order to study the morphology and size of muscle fibers, cross sections of biceps brachii samples from autopsies, up to 9 hours after death, and biopsies of 72 subjects were compared. The subjects aged 13 to 84 years in both sexes. METHODS: The samples obtained from autopsies (n=47) were from subjects with sudden death, or who died after acute disease without evidence of neuromuscular involvement. The biopsies (n=25) were from patients with symptoms suggestive of inflammatory or metabolic myopathy, not confirmed morphologically. The lesser diameter of muscle fibers was measured using the ATPase reaction. RESULTS: Morphological analysis showed that aging changes were present from the sixth decade in autopsies, and consisted of atrophy and/or type-grouping. The statistical models adjusted for females in both autopsies and biopsies were linear straight with no variation in fiber size with increasing age. The models adjusted for males in both groups were quadratic, indicating that age influenced the size of different type fibers. In males type 2 were larger than type 1 fibers, and than fibers in females. CONCLUSIONS: These values might be useful as controls, helping interpretation of changes in fiber size in samples obtained from biopsies and autopsies

Avaliaçäo de açöes municipais de combate a vetores da dengue na regiäo de Säo José do Rio Preto, Säo Paulo, 1989 a 1995 / Municipal activities against dengue vectors: a survey in the region of Säo José do Rio Preto, Säo Paulo, 1989-1995

O objetivo do trabalho é medir as coberturas das atividades municipais de controle de Aedes aegypti e/ou Aedes albopictus, o casa-casa e o arrastäo, realizadas entre 1989 e 1995 na regiäo de Säo José do Rio Preto, Säo Paulo e avaliar a correlaçäo cruzada entre elas e os Indices de Breteau (IB). Para os municípios com até 50.000 imóveis as coberturas conjuntas das atividades casa-casa e arrastäo foram em sua maioria adequadas e as coberturas do casa-casa apresentaram correlaçäo cruzada negativa com os IB. Para município sede (maior que 50.000 imóveis) essas coberturas näo apresentaram correlaçäo com os IB. Em geral as coberturas foram inversamente proporcionais ao tamanho dos municípios. Para todas as faixas de tamanho de municípios, os arrastöes näo apresentaram correlaçäo com os IB, mostrando-se ineficazes